Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

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Smilin' through

Introduction

Arthur A Penn, born in London, was a direct descendant of William Penn. He wrote an account of how the inspiration to write Smilin’ through came from an advert on a train which showed a country cottage with a road winding through fields. It dates from 1918. “I wrote the song in twenty minutes”, he said, “the music first, then the words, on the back of an envelope coming in one day on a Long Island train. I had no title for it—that came with the words”.

Recordings

'If these ardent renderings&… do not find a place in your heart then you should wonder what your heart's made of' (Classic FM Magazine)'Hyperion are to be congratulated on their courage in issuing this charming collection of songs which might be classified as an endangered species. Wa ...» More

'A persuasive case for the often sublime artistry of the humble parlour song … I found no trouble at all in listening to in continuously from sta ...'Thomas Allen recalls happy evenings round the family piano and offers this well sung collection, which will strike a lost chord with many' (BBC Music ...» More

Details

There’s a little brown road windin’ over the hill
To a little white cot by the sea:
There’s a little green gate at whose trellis I wait,
While two eyes of blue come smilin’ through
At me!

There’s a grey lock or two in the brown of the hair;
There’s some silver in mine, too, I see;
But in all the long years, when the clouds brought their tears,
Those two eyes of blue kept smilin’ through
At me!

There’s a little brown road windin’ over the hill
To a little white cot by the sea:
There’s a little green gate at whose trellis I wait,
While two eyes of blue come smilin’ through
At me!

There’s a grey lock or two in the brown of the hair;
There’s some silver in mine, too, I see;
But in all the long years, when the clouds brought their tears,
Those two eyes of blue kept smilin’ through
At me!